Pricking-awl and awl-plate



(No Model.)

G. H. INMAN.

Prioking Aw and-m1 Plate No. 239,958. Patented April 12,1881.

Wang; k fiwentoi 15% M M UNITED STATES PATENT QEFICE.

CHARLES H. INMAN, OF STONEHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

PRICKING-AWL AND AWL-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,958, dated April 121881.

Application filed September 6, '1880. (No model.)

lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andto letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification...

This invention relates to the construction of awls employed in machinesfor pricking the heels of boots and shoes preparatory to the driving ofthe nails therein, these prickingawls, so-called, being erected upon aplate by inserting their lower ends in holes in the latter from itsunder side, the outer lift or tread of the heel being pressed down uponthe combined points of the awls from above.

Heretofore these awls have been composed of one piece of steel with atapering or frustoconical head, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings,while the holes in the plate, when the latter is new, are slightlytapering and of a diameter less than that of the awls head the head ofthe awl beingdriven into the hole, in order to insure a close fit, forthe purpose not only of confining the awl rigidly erect in place withinthe plate,but also to prevent the turning of the awl in the hole, as itis important that the original position of the point of the awl shall bepreserved, owing to the fact of its being flat. As these awls arefrequently broken or injured and require renewal, the holes in the platebecome enlarged and do not firmly gripe the awl-head, and in consequencethe plate must be discarded.

The purpose of my invention is to provide an awl which shall notinterfere with the original size of the hole or injure the plate, andwhich cannot becomeloose or turn in the hole, and to this end I form thehead of the awl of a material softer than that of the plate,-so thatrepeated removals and insertions of an awl shall not enlarge or injurethe hole.

An incidental feature in my invention consists in creating in the wallsof each hole in the plate longitudinal or spiral parallel grooves, intowhich the soft material of the headof the awl is crowded, therebypreventing possibility of turning of the awl in its seat.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent, in Fig. l, asectional elevation of an awl containing my improvement, and in Fig. 2 asection of the awl as applied to the plate which supports it. Fig. 3 insaid draw-- 6o ings represents an elevation of an awl heretofore in use,and Fig. 4 a section of the plate containing it. Figs. 5 and 6 are ahorizontal sect-ion of the plate and two of its holes, showing the ribsand grooves, as hereinafter alluded to.

In these drawings, A represents the awlholding plate of a heel-prickingmachine, the same being punctured with a series of vertical holes, a a,&c., arranged in the form of the tread of a boot-heel, as usual in suchmachines, these holes, when originally drilled, being slightly taperingand increasing in diameter toward their lower ends.

B in the drawings represents an awl as here- 7 5 tofore made, it beingcomposed of hardened steel and having an integral frusto-conical head,0, of a diameter greater than that of a hole, a, and when the awl isinserted in the plate it is diiven into the hole with considerableforce, in order, as before stated, to confine. it securely therein, theresult being that after several insertions the hole becomes enlarged tosuch an extent that the plate is useless.

In carrying out my invention I provide the awl B with a head, D, of ametal considerably softer than that of the plate A, in order that whenthe head is inserted in one of the holes a and driven tightly therein itshall not enlarge or otherwise injure such hole.

The head D may be screwed upon the end of the awl, as shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, or it may be brazed or riveted thereto, or shrunken uponit. I do not restrict myself to the precise manner of securing the headD to the body 9 5 of the awl, as it may be effected in various ways.

To prevent possibility of turning of the awl in the hole I prefer tocreate in the walls of such hole one or more longitudinal or spiral 10ogrooves, 11, into which the soft metal of the head of the awl is crowdedas the latter is and a head of softer metal, screwed upon or otherwiseattached thereto, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a perforated awl plate, a series of awls havingheads which are softer than said plate, said heads beingscrewed upon orotherwise attached to the shanks of the awls.

3. An awl-plate having holes and provided 20 with grooves or ridges inthe walls of said holes, in combination with awls having heads of metalsofter than said plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES H. INMAN.

Witnesses: WM. T. ANDREWS,

H. E. LODGE.

